European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 3, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday april 3, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 3ceausescu brother on trial for murder Bucharest Romania apr Nic or Andrita Ceausescu the brother of Nils Etc dictator Nicolae causes a we it on trial monday accused of kill one seven people during last december s Soodi revolution that ended More than 40 years of communist Rule Andrita Ceausescu 66, a former Dep Ute Interior minister and police general is charged with Quot aggravated murder in ideation to commit genocide and attempted murder for his part in efforts to suppress the popular revolt that ended is brother s 24-year hold on Power. According to the romanian penal a de Quot aggravated murder Means the defendant is charged with murdering More than one person. According to the indictment the defendant ordered some 1,000 police cadets under his command to fire on thou ends of demonstrators in the streets of the capital dec. 21 and 22. When they refused he allegedly personally shot seven protesters. However Andrita Ceausescu denied the accusations admitting Only to the lesser charge of illegal Possession of firearms the indictment said. The trial which was expected to last through the week took place in a converted theater Hall forming part of a heavily guarded police base on the outskirts of Bucharest. The building housing the courtroom was ringed with policemen and soldiers in full combat gear with two armoured personnel carriers blocking its Entrance. The trial opened with an emotion charged scene during which the parents of one of Andrita Ceausescu a victims Lears streaming from their eyes accused defense attorney Vasile so Moceanu of Quot protecting this hundreds of people died in the popular uprising that started in mid december and ended with the overthrow of Ceausescu and communist Rule. Ceausescu was toppled dec. 22 and executed three Days later with his wife Elena after a summary trial before a military tribunal. Following their execution the death sentence was abolished by the provisional leadership that took Power in the chaos of the revolution. If Andrita Ceausescu is found guilty the maximum penalty would be life imprisonment four of the former presidents closest aides were sentenced to life imprisonment by a military tribunal last month. His two sons and daughter Are also in custody awaiting trial Likely to open in late april or Early May romanian reporters said. Andrita Ceausescu sitting in the Dock flanked by two White helmeted policemen and bearing an eerie physical resemblance to his late brother gazed impassively at a three Man panel of military judges headed by col. Igon Dima. He occasionally turned to glance at the half empty courtroom where Access was restricted to journalists and members of the victims families. The 15-Page indictment accused Andrita Ceausescu of a taking action to prevent demonstrators from entering the Headquarters of the now defunct romanian communist this was done a in a very grave Way by issuing orders to his men to open fire on demonstrators a it said adding that he personally a distributed ammunition to the the document quoted witnesses among the Security troops who testified that a the was shouting like a beast and shot his gun at the crowds. A the acted to suppress the revolution and fired his gun killing seven persons a the indictment said. A for these reasons he is charged with aggravated murder and with inciting genocide a it stated. But Andrita Ceausescu a lawyer said the prosecution has a not come up with any evidence that could Send my client to when called to testify the defendant also repeatedly denied any responsibility claiming that the Security forces had been ordered a not to shoot at demonstrators unless they were shot at a and that he never issued orders to the contrary. A i did not give any orders on my own initiative to repress the demonstrators but i passed on through my aides the orders i received from the minister of Interior a the defendant told the court. He insisted he had been instructed by Gen. Iulian Vlad the former head of the Securi Tate the now disbanded secret police to mobilize his troops and bring them to the Square a to prevent hooligans and thugs from breaking into the Central committee building. Nicolae Andrita Ceausescu brother of Romania s late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu listens impassively As his murder trial gets under Way Square reopens under eyes of police a boy sitting with his parents Aims a toy gun at police patrolling Tiana men Square. Beijing apr Tiana men Square reopened monday with armed police maintaining a conspicuous presence among sparse Rainy Day crowds. The vast Square was closed to the general Public on sunday a Day overseas dissidents had asked students and others to a stroll Quot through it in a silent protest Over the military suppression last june of the pro democracy movement. On sunday the City instead brought in some 5,000 schoolchildren who banged cymbals and beat Drums As part of ceremonies to encourage civic enthusiasm for the asian games to be held in Beijing in september. Chinese offices and factories told people to slay away from the Square on sunday and warned they should not go to Tiana men on other anniversaries of events highlighting the april june democracy Campaign. The 100-Aerc Square China a symbolic political Center was open As usual monday but with a heavy police presence. About a dozen police vans and jeeps were parked on the Square and at least 10 pairs of police armed with pistols and Walkie talkies were seen patrolling the Plaza. People were not allowed to walk around the base of the Monument to revolutionary martyrs in the Center of the Square. The Monument normally open was guarded by about 15 police up from the usual four sentries. Fire trucks with water cannons were parked on the East Side of the Square next to the history museum and outside the great Hall of the people to the West. A dozen plainclothes police were seen gathered next to the great Hall. Small groups of chinese and foreign tourists wandered around the Square and Long lines formed As usual to see the body of Mao tse Tung in Mao s mausoleum on its South end. Crowds were thin however because of the wet weather. Heavy police surveillance is Likely to continue through april 5, the annual Qingmin festival when chinese Honor their dead. Dissidents have also called for a a protest stroll through the Square on that Day to Honor the hundreds of people killed june 3-4 when the military stormed the City to wrest control of the Square from pro democracy students. The capitals beefed up Security forces will also be on Alert on april 15, the first anniversary of the death of former communist party chief Huyao bang the event that touched off the biggest show of resistance to China a political system in the party a 40-year Rule
